Last Word on Rand Paul

Dr. Rand Paul, a darling of the Tea Party Movement, is now the Kentucky Republican Party's candidate for election to the United States Senate. His reported opinions on such Federal laws as the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Americans with Disabilities Act can only be described as both eccentric and extremist.

As soon as the furor broke over Dr. Paul's remarks, he ran for cover. After presenting an incoherent defense of his position in various interviews, Dr. Paul then canceled his scheduled appearance on NBC's 'Meet the Press', one of America's most significant news shows.

While his words may indicate that Dr. Paul is just a common or garden variety bigot, his actions certainly show that he lacks courage.

Worse, while peddling snake oil in the form of a Balanced Budget Amendment that will never be ratified, Dr.Paul opposes any cuts in Medicare which, after Social Security and Defense, is the third largest budget line item - and the one that is most out of control. Perhaps it should be no surprise to find that that Dr. Paul is an ophthalmologist and, according to various reports, at least half of his patients are covered by Medicare.

That makes Dr. Paul just another politician who is unwilling to do the right thing if it would include any sacrifice on his part. While bigotry, cowardice, and hypocrisy are all common characteristics of politicians, they usually go to great lengths to conceal them. For failure to conceal these faults, add incompetence to Dr. Paul's resume.

The world will be a better place if the voters of Kentucky permit Dr. Paul to continue his medical career by not forcing him to work in the United States Senate.